Heel support



Nov. 15, 1938. J. PIM

HEEL SUPPORT Filed March 50, 1938 TP/M,

Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 30,

1938, Serial No. 199,028

In Great Britain March 8, 1937 6 Claims.

The invention relates toautomobile drivers.

The object of the invention is to provide a resilient heel support whichmay be secured to an 5 automobile floor and obviate the inconvenience atpresent experienced by lady motorists especially when driving in highheeled shoes, that the back surface of the shoe heel becomes worn andthe heel itself is bent under the arch of the foot.

The device may take various forms, as will be evident from the ensuingdescription of the various modified constructions of the improved heelsupport illustrated in the drawing.

Figure 1 shows in perspective one form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows in fied form, and

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show in side elevation some other possible formsof the heel support.

Similar parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the heel support illustrated inthis figure consists of a resilient block of rubberized hair,rubber-sponge, rubber or like material of the step form shown,comprising an upper flat tread portion I, a lower flat tread portion 2and an intermediate riser portion 3 which is inclined at an angle ofabout 45 to the vertical. The rear surface I8 of the block slopesdownwardly away from the upper tread portion I. The block is about 1inches high at its rear step portion and about inch high at its frontstep portion, the overall width of the block being about 10 inches, thestep portions I and 2 being each about 3 inches in Width. The length ofthe block may be about 11 to 12 inches, depending upon the distancebetween the pedals of the motor car to which it is to be fitted.

The block is covered on its upper, side and rear surfaces with a feltfabric,.and at the front edge, an extension piece 4 of this fabric isprovided to form a flap. This flap is provided near to its side edgeswith pairs of turn-buckle eyelets 5a, 5b and 6a, 6b. A pair ofturn-buckles or studs Ia, lb is provided on the front footboard 8 of thefloor of the Vehicle, below the pedals 9, I and I I, so that they may beengaged either by the endmost pair of turn-buckle eyelets Ba, Nb, asshown in Figure 1, when the heel support is intended to accommodate theheel of a large size of shoe such as might be worn by a male driver, orthe pair of turn-buckle eyelets a, 5b ,as shown in Figure 2, when theheel support is intended to accommodate the heel of a smaller size ofshoe as for example a high-heeled lady's a heel support for perspectivea slightly modishoe I2. In this figure, turn-buckles shown attached to acarpet footboard 8.

Referring to Figure 2, which shows a slightly modified form of thesupport, it will be seen that the surface of the upper step portion I ofthe block accommodates the counter or heel-embracing portion I3 of theshoe I2, and in this manner the shoe is protected against abrasion bygrit and other particles which are usually deposited on the floor of theautomobile. The heel block I4 of the shoe is accommodated on the lowerstep portion 2, and it will be seen that any tendency for this block tobend towards the arch I5 of the shoe when a pedal is depressed will beavoided owing to the resilient nature of the block.

In this form of the heel support, the rear surface of the resilientblock is vertical.

Figure 3 shows in side elevation an alternative form of the heelsupport, wherein the riser portion 3 between the upper step portion Iand the lower step portion 2 is substantially vertical. With thisconstruction, any tendency for grit to accumulate on the surface 3 isavoided and the counter of the shoe, bearing on the horizontal edgeportion of the block at the intersections of the horizontal surface Iand the vertical surface 3, is thus protected from abrasion by grit. Thelower edge of the heel block rests on the lower step portion 2 so thatthe rear surface of the heel block does not come into contact with thesurface of the block and is thus protected against abrasion by grit andlike particles.

Figure 4 shows in side elevation a form of the heel support which isparticularly adapted for use in automobiles of American manufacture, andin this arrangement the upper surface I! of the block slopes downwardlytowards the pedals from one end of the block to the other. In thisconstruction, the rear surface I8 of the block also slopes in order toprevent the drivers foot from catching the upper edge I9.

In the constructional form of the heel support as shown in sideelevation in Figure 5, the block is of uniform thickness, and the uppersurface 20 is substantially level.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, which is a combination of thearrangements illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the upper surface I is flatand the rear surface I8 slopes downwardly.

The front surface is stepped, but the lower stepped portion 2| slopesdownwardly towards the control pedals.

I claim:

I6 which covers the la, Ib are 1. Heel support for an automobile drivercomprising a block of resilient rubber material, a detachable covertherefor of washable material, a flap on said covering, means in saidflap to sesure the block to the automobile floor.

2. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a resilient block, aflexible cover secured on the upper and outer surfaces thereof, a flapextending from the front thereof, pairs of eyelets in said flap toengage a pair of studs on the automobile floor and a non-slip surface onthe underside of the resilient block.

3. A heel support for an automobile driver comprising a steppedrubberized-hair block, having a sloping riser portion between two treadportions, a felt cover secured on the upper, rear and side surfaces ofthe block, a length of the felting extending beyond the end of the lowertread portion at the front thereof and constituting a flap, and pairs ofeyelets in said flap arranged serially in parallel relationship to engage alternatively a pair of studs in the automobile floor.

4. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a block of resilientmaterial, a cover of flexible material secured over the upper surface ofsaid block, said cover extending forwardly at the front of said block toform a flap, and means for attaching said flap to the floor of anautomobile.

5. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a stepped resilientblock extending transversely of the control pedals, and having a slopingportion between the stepped portions, and

a flap for locating said block securely on an automobile floor.

6. Heel support for an automobile driver comprising a stepped resilientblock, a flap secured to the front thereof, and pairs of eyelets in saidflap adapted to engage alternatively with a pair of studs on theautomobile floor.

JOANE PIM.

